Ben Helfgott, Holocaust survivor, educator and British Olympian, has been knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s list, alongside fellow Jews MP Louise Ellman and historian Simon Schama.
Sir Ben, who received the knighthood for services to Holocaust Remembrance and Education, told the JC that he “never thought to receive such an honour,” adding that he felt “humbled".
"What I did was because I felt compelled to talk about the Holocaust. No-one will ever understand the horror and enormity of it,” he said.
“My mother, father, sister perished. In my class of 43 only two of us survived. I wanted to tell people about the Holocaust and for the six million who perished to be remembered, and to create a more tolerant society.”
Sir Ben lost all his immediate family in the Holocaust apart from one sister, Mala. He came to Britain in 1945 with 700 other survivors, who would become known as “The Boys”.
He went on to be a British weightlifting Champion, captaining Britain’s weightlifting team at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics. He is the Chairman of the ’45 Aid Society, established in 1963 by The Boys to raise money for charitable causes and to look after each other.
He also chairs the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.
Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, called Sir Ben’s knighthood “marvellous news and so deserved.
“Soon after he was liberated from the concentration camps, Ben knew that the story of what happened to him, his family and the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis must be told. He helped shape Holocaust education in the UK, campaigned for a memorial in London and for a national day to remember the Holocaust...
“His forthright approach to never forgetting the Holocaust has gained him admiration from Prime Ministers, Royalty and even the England Football Squad.”
Prof Schama was also knighted and delivered a powerful message to the JC about fighting antisemitism by teaching Jewish history.
Dame Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, told the JC she was “delighted”, adding the honour had come “as a great surprise”.
Lloyd Dorfman, the founder of the Travelex Group, was knighted for services to philanthropy and the arts.
He said: “Through all my philanthropic activity, I have tried to give time as well as money.
“Whether in the Jewish community, the arts, education or welfare, the goal is to enable people to fulfil their potential, express their creativity and help the vulnerable. It continues to be a privilege and a pleasure.”
Other Jewish people to receive honours include Colonel Martin Newman, chairman of the Jewish Committee for HM Forces, who received an MBE for voluntary service to the armed forces, and the economist and newly-appointed member of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee, Prof Jonathan Haskel, who was made a CBE.
Simon Keenlyside, the opera singer, is knighted and Debbie Wiseman, the composer and conductor, received an OBE for services to music.
"I'm hugely honoured and overwhelmed to receive the OBE,” Prof Wiseman said.
“It's wonderful to be able to share the honour with all the talented musicians that bring my music to life."
